Nigeria’s mobile network operators are planning to significantly increase investment in network infrastructure in 2026, committing to spend more than the over $1 billion (about N1.4 trillion) invested in the sector in 2025, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The pledge follows a year of heavy capital expenditure, during which telecom operators deployed more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide. The expansion improved coverage across major cities, rural communities and key transport corridors, while also supporting the gradual rollout of 5G services.
Speaking on the regulator’s latest network performance report released this week, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the improvements recorded were largely driven by last year’s investment.
“In 2025, over $1 billion in industry investment resulted in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand both coverage and capacity nationwide. Much of the progress reflected in today’s reports is a direct outcome of these investments,” Maida said.
He added that the commission has received assurances from operators that infrastructure spending will rise further this year. “We have secured commitments from operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure investments continuing in earnest,” he noted.
Africa’s most populous country continues to face surging demand for data services, rising operating costs and persistent pressure to extend reliable connectivity beyond urban centres — challenges common across many developing markets.
The investment rebound comes after a period of financial strain that saw operators push for tariff adjustments. A 50 per cent increase in service charges, approved by the NCC and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, eased cost pressures and helped restore profitability, enabling telcos to resume ambitious network expansion plans.
According to the NCC’s Q4 2025 report, which was presented virtually, key performance indicators showed steady improvement. Median download speeds increased in both urban and rural areas compared with the previous quarter, while the gap in video quality experience between urban and rural users narrowed. The report also pointed to continued strengthening of Nigeria’s 4G network backbone.
“These reports enable us to track progress, identify gaps and guide targeted regulatory interventions,” Maida said. He explained that the NCC relies on independently verified data to support decisions on spectrum optimisation, infrastructure upgrades, quality-of-service enforcement and rural connectivity expansion.
Despite the progress made in 2025, the commission acknowledged that challenges persist. The Q4 report highlighted gaps in 5G availability, ongoing inequalities in upload speeds and pockets of limited mobile service coverage in some parts of the country.
Maida said the NCC is working closely with operators to address these issues, stressing that increased infrastructure spending in 2026 will be crucial to closing coverage gaps and meeting Nigeria’s growing appetite for data.
The commission added that the publication of the network performance reports is part of its broader push for transparent, data-driven regulation, supported by collaboration with global network intelligence firm Ookla, which provides independent insights into real-world network performance and user experience.
With operators set to scale investment beyond the $1 billion spent in 2025, the NCC said it expects further improvements in network reliability, speed and coverage, as well as progress toward a more inclusive digital ecosystem that serves both urban and underserved communities.
